Clinton Announces Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine As Running Mate
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/CBS News/AP) -- Hillary Clinton said in a text message to supporters that she's picked Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine to join her on the Democratic ticket as their party's nominee for vice president.
In the message, Clinton says: "I'm thrilled to tell you this first: I've chosen Sen. Tim Kaine as my running mate.''
Clinton followed up her announcement with a YouTube video of Kane on the campaign trail.
A favorite since the start of Clinton's search for a running mate, Kaine is a former governor of the battleground state and former mayor of Richmond.
Kaine, a 58-year-old father of three, won election to the Senate four years ago after serving as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Clinton is choosing Kaine from a group that included Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
5 Fast Facts About Clinton VP Pick Sen. Tim Kaine
Clinton sources told CBS News that she called Kaine earlier Friday evening to confirm that he was the pick. Kaine took to Twitter making the announcement on his end.
In a recent interview with "CBS This Morning" anchor Charlie Rose, Clinton expressed her high opinion of Kaine.
"He's never lost an election," she said. "He was a world class mayor, governor and senator."
COMPLETE CAMPAIGN 2016 COVERAGE
In previous days, Kaine had emerged as the leading contender to become Clinton's vice president, according to Democratic sources familiar with her plans.
Kaine is considered one of the safest picks for Clinton and he has described himself as "boring," CBS News reported. However his name on the ticket could help Clinton appeal to white men. Kaine is also fluent in Spanish and spent time volunteering in Honduras when he was younger.
"One of the wonderful things about Tim is that he does not need anybody's title," said Tom Wolf, a former law partner and longtime friend. "You could sit next to him on a cross-country flight, and he would never tell you that he was a Virginia governor or a U.S. senator."
Instead of wealth or prestige, supporters and colleagues said the former missionary is a man motivated by deep convictions and his Roman Catholic faith.
"I do what I do for spiritual reasons," Kaine, who declined an interview with The Associated Press, said on C-SPAN last month.
A whip-smart Harvard Law School graduate, Kaine speaks with ease while campaigning, rarely needing a prepared text. In 2007, his remarks at Virginia Tech the day after one of the worst campus shootings in modern U.S. history won wide praise.
Kaine has had a somewhat charmed political rise. After serving as a Richmond city councilmember and part-time mayor, Kaine became the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor when the presumed candidate dropped out following a cancer diagnosis. And Kaine's election to the Senate was only possible because the incumbent, Democrat Jim Webb, unexpectedly decided to leave after one term.
In one of the most divisive elections in recent history, Kaine's political style would also stand in stark contrast to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's often incendiary rhetoric and aggressive, personal attacks.
Trump texted his supporters Friday night, calling Clinton's running mate "corrupt Kaine" and adding that Kaine, Clinton and Obama are "the ultimate insiders."
Kaine was on the short list for vice president once before. President Barack Obama considered him eight years ago, but picked Joe Biden instead.
Clinton is set to campaign with Kaine at a rally in Miami on Saturday. It will be held at noon at Florida International University.
The pair's first joint interview will be this Sunday on "60 Minutes," on CBS.
The Democratic convention begins Monday in Philadelphia.
The list of speakers for the DNC include several names from the Tri-State area, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who had also been mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick, is also set to speak.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
